The Lost Wedding Dress Photos (and) The Curious Tale of the Green Neckline
Suddenly, 26 years have gone by and Mr H and I are about to celebrate another wedding anniversary.
Here’s what we looked like on the big day:
And here’s us in 2022, the last time I tried on the wedding gown:
My dress trying on days are over, however, I’ve tried it on in previous years on this blog: first in 2017; for our 20 year anniversary in 2019 where I discovered a box of wedding paraphernalia; the anniversary in lockdown in 2020; in 2021 for “Two for Twenty Two”; and in 2022 as the above photo. Take a look if you like looking at wedding photos.
I recently found some photos of my wedding dress, partly made. They were taken on a film camera in 1999. I sewed my own dress, set up in my parent’s dining room, which came to look like a sewing bomb had gone off!
The red outfit in the top left of the photo was Mum’s wedding attire, which she was sewing in the same room.
It was considered a very modest dress at the time, as strapless bridal gowns were in fashion.
I also sewed a bridesmaid’s dress for my sister. It was a Vogue pattern, sewn in blue polyester and lined in white. Being bias cut, it looks a bit flat on the hanger.
Here it is on the day, when we had just arrived at the church.
After the wedding, the dress lay around in the spare bedroom for some weeks while I looked for a suitable box to store it in. During this time, I noticed that the fabric around the neck had started to discolour, turning green. I asked for advice at work about this curious problem (I worked in a uniform factory with some very knowledgeable people). It was suggested that the gold threads contained copper, which reacted with my sweat, and gradually turned green over the following weeks.
To neutralize it, a colleague suggested sprinkling it with baby powder, leaving it, and then brushing it off with a clothes brush.
Some time later, the copper theory was confirmed by a scientist friend, who thoughtfully wrote out an analysis for me.
Apart from the baby powder, I couldn’t do much about the front neck, but before I stored the dress I unpicked the neck facings and replaced them with plain white. I kept the old ones in the wedding paraphernalia box, with their scientific analysis.
Here’s to 26 years! May we keep partying like it’s 1999 🙂
Cheers!
Congratulations!
I love the in-process photos for your dress. And it’s beautiful! I love that neckline.
Thank you Bea – those photos have been packed away in a box since we moved house 15 years ago.
Very interesting topic! Three cheers for science 🙂
Agree – it was great to have an official confirmation of the copper theory.
I love that you have kept all this documentation, it’s part of the story/history of the dress and of your wedding day. Really great to have an answer to why the collar turned green.
Beautiful dress so well made, I really like this style, what would that collar be called ? its very flattering. How loverly that you put your dress on over the years and well done for being able to still fit into it.
Those were the days when we made our clothes including the wedding dress, brides maid dress and your mum making her outfit as well, it really makes the day even more special.
Thank you I really enjoyed reading this post, Gwen
Thank you Gwen. Yes, the photos took me back as my parents house was sold about 20 years ago. I think my dress is a little like Princess Margaret’s dress, but far less voluminous!
You are beautiful! And brave! Sewing on silk terrifies me. I had the joy of wearing my mother’s 1950 plain ivory silk satin, long sleeve, buttons galore button down in 1980. Very similar to your pattern, except I turned my mother’s “Neru-ish” collar out for me a small V at my neck. And rather than adjusting the bodice, chose a nicely padded bra. Ha! Your pictures are lovely. I look forward to following more of your blog. Thank you.
Thanks Heidi 🙂 I don’t recall it being difficult to sew, but it was expensive so I definitely did a toile first!
How wonderful that you got to wear your mother’s dress. Did she sew it herself? She got married in a glamorous era for wedding gowns. I can’t remember if I considered wearing Mum’s dress (late 60s, Jackie Kennedy simplicity)- I did try it on and it was too big.
Happy Anniversary!
Thank goodness the oxidation is slow enough that it waited until sometime after the Big Day to appear. I had a very similar neckline on my similar silk fabric, but I donated my wedding dress a long time ago so have no idea if a similar fate befell it. I love your sister’s dress – like a bias cut Cheong sam. You make an elegant pair of siblings. Always good to see that Mr H’s hat was not always a permanent feature!
Thanks Wendy 🙂 I didn’t mention the further discussion on the silk that we had at work: someone suggested it might not necessarily happen with everyone’s sweat. There’s a research paper idea right there!
We thought my sister’s dress looked a bit like Pippa Middleton’s.
What a beautiful dress! And it still fits you! (Mine definitely wouldn’t after 54 years).
I made a cotton voile dress in pink and lilac, with ribbons with beads on and pink feathers on the end, flowing from the front of a satin bodice. Very hippie! I still have it and it hasn’t deteriorated at all. The design was based on a Gina Fratini dress which I couldn’t afford. Our whole wedding cost £50 — a bit different from weddings today!
Thank you for sharing your photos. X
It “fitted” until about 2022, so I had a pretty good run with it. Yours sounds delightful, and wonderful that you have kept it all these years.
What a rare treat to be able to pack a scientist’s report in with such a treasured garment! What a great mystery, solved by great minds in two disciplines. 🙂
It was so interesting, and something I had no idea about!